L. Howard Redd…farmer, friend and father found his way home to our Lord on Thursday, November 15, 2012.

Born September 20, 1927, the youngest of 11 children, Howard was the only one born in a hospital. But that was basically the only time in life he would allow himself to be treated better than others.

His life’s focus was about kindness to others. Whether society considered someone a success or a failure, Howard simply loved them.

He was the father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend everyone could always go to. There is a long list of good things that could be said about him.

At the age of 12, he received the Gold Medal for Saving Life, the highest honor given by the Boy Scouts of America, for saving his friend, Meade W. Allred, from drowning.

However, he rarely spoke about this as it caused great sorrow that he was unable to save his other friend, Jack Anderson. The boys were practicing diving stunts in preparation for a Boy Scout meeting.

Howard served in the United States Army during World War II. He was a realtor, a small business owner, and a nursing home administrator/owner.

Howard was a farmer and a true cowboy. Farming was his favorite profession and pastime.

He loved San Juan County and the Horse-head on the Abajo (Blue) Mountains.

He loved spending time on his farm near Eastland. He enjoyed walking through the trees, finding horny toads, fossilized shells, seeing deer and elk, and listening in the silence.

He loved the land of San Juan County. Overseeing that land was his business and his passion.

He loved to be stubborn about it…and he (and his daughter) appreciated everyone’s patience in that.

Howard also enjoyed reading the San Juan Record. His daughter’s favorite time with her dad over the past several years was reading “From the Past”. He always remembered every detail of who, where and when from the 70 years and 60 years ago sections. It was a joy to share that piece of his childhood memory.

When it came to family, Howard was devoted. He always told people he felt his greatest accomplishment was his daughter, Tami. She was his princess from beginning to end. He spoiled her, disciplined her, encouraged her and he loved her. She feels abundantly blessed to be his daughter.

He felt that same love for her husband, Stephan, and their three children.

This past year, as he endured the effects of a stroke and the pains of cancer, his first greeting was always “tell me about the kids”. They will miss him greatly.

But Howard did not want praise for his accomplishments or his good works. He did these things from the foundation of love.

Howard loved God. He was consumed with a desire to know truth in all things, especially those pertaining to God. Hanging on his wall from John 8:32 was “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

This desire for truth was purely focused on revealing the amazing and all-encompassing love that God has for all of us. A simple love demonstrated by Christ’s grace as found in Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”.

He trusted God more than his own actions and good works and more than man-defined religion.

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